Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!

The sound of dried up leaves being crushed echoed in the silent forest as the figure walked over to unconscious Eren’s side.

This figure was none other than Joshua.

He looked at the beast corpses before looking at bleeding Eren.

After a moment, he ripped Eren’s shirt off his body, then wrapped it over his lower back tightly, stopping the blood from flowing out. Then, he hefted him on his shoulder and walked back toward the village.

...

I didn’t know how much time had passed when I woke up. And the first thing I felt was a burning pain in my back.

"Argh!" I grunted and slowly opened my eyes.

I was lying in bed in my hut.

My shirt was wrapped around my belly tightly.

’Someone found me?’ I thought and right then...

Creak~

The doors swung open and someone entered the hut.

"I heard you killed five Dark Beasts alone?" asked Luna.

’So that’s what they are called.’ I thought and nodded, "Yeah. I did."

"Who saved me, the hunters?" I asked.

"No," Luna shook her head, "It was uncle Joshua."

"...I see." I nodded, then winced in pain and asked, "Have you put some medicine on my wounds?"

"Yes. It’s painful, right?" Luna asked, her lips curving up into a smile.

...

After a while, Luna left, saying she was going to bring me something to eat.

I lay there in silence, staring at the ceiling, digesting the information I got out of her.

First, unlike what I thought when I heard Joshua had brought me back to the village, he hadn’t followed me to spy on me, but had entered the forest after picking up the energy signatures of the Dark Beasts.

When he arrived, he found me unconscious among the corpses of the dark beasts, so he brought me back.

Second, the Eastern Forest was on the coast of Black Sea which was a forbidden zone because a dark, sinister energy permeated its waters that caused mutation in the beasts and made them a lot more savage and bloodthirsty.

Third, these mutated beasts were called Dark Beasts and were the main threat the village was facing.

Fourth, this remote region, where the village and the forest was located, didn’t have much mana and most of what was here was corrupted by the Dark Energy of the Black Sea, making this place unsuitable for habitation.

This was why, all the villagers dreamed of leaving this place and living in the deeper regions of the continent that were rich in Mana and Resources.

’So, I need to head deeper into the continent.’ I mused and decided to ask Luna why hadn’t they left this village and headed to the deeper regions already when she returned.

’Now, let’s see the result of that stream.’ Feeling excited, I summoned the system screen with a thought.

[Stream Ended.]

[Peak Viewers: 12]

[Total Gifts: 1]

[Broadcast Evaluation: Average.]

I quickly scrolled down and found the notification I wanted to see.

[Stream Points Rewarded: 220]

[Ding! Stream Point Multiplier applied! 1.12x. You’ve received 246 Stream Points.]

’What a letdown!’ I shook my head in disappointment seeing the multiplier had only increased the Stream Points I received by 26 points.

Then, I began calculating.

’To get double points, I would need 100 viewers. Given the rate at which they have been increasing, it wouldn’t be long before I will hit this number.’ I thought.

Clearing the notifications, I opened my status screen.

[Name: Eren Yadgril]

[Strength: 0.8]

[Agility: 0.7]

[Perception: 1.5]

[SP: 246]

[Ability: Predator’s Gaze (Authority Fragment, Stability: 12%)]

[Shop→]

[Return Countdown: 08: 37: 07]

Immediately, I became pleasantly surprised when I saw the new addition in my status screen—Ability.

I hadn’t paid this gift any attention earlier because I thought it was a temporary like other gifts I received, but luckily it was not.

’Stability...?’ I mentally clicked on Predator’s Gaze and a small window popped up in front of me.

[Predator’s Gaze: A supreme Predator’s Authority Fragment. Can terrify and freeze the weak-willed creatures. Currently unstable and overuse will result in backlash.]

Despite the fact it was just a fragment and very unstable, I became very excited, especially when I recalled how those Dark Beasts had been frozen in place from just a look.

’I need to find out how powerful this is.’ I thought.

After a few moments, I calmed down and opened the system shop.

I noticed there was a new entry there.

[Piercing Strike (1 Use) — 150 SP]

’So it really depends on how many SPs I have.’ I thought before focusing my gaze on the three items.

-Permanent Perception

-Permanent Strength

-Permanent Agility

After considering for a moment, I mentally tapped the screen and two prompts appeared;

[Are you sure you want to purchase: Permanent Strength +1, Permanent Agility +1?]

’Yes,’ I confirmed.

[Ding! Purchase Successful.]

[Remaining SP: 46]

Instantly, I felt a cooling sensation wash over me. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

When it disappeared, I didn’t feel any change, but when I clenched my fist, I could feel the power in it. I felt as if I could punch a hole in the wall at the moment.

[Strength: 0.8→1.8]

[Agility: 0.7→1.7]

’It would have been good if I had 4 more SPs.’ I thought with some regret. I could have bought a Healing Potion, healed instantly and then gone out and tested how strong I had become.

I tried to move my body and didn’t feel as much pain.

’Her medicine is quite effective too. It shouldn’t take more than two hours for these wounds to close completely.’ I mused and nodded in satisfaction.